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Comprehensive Program Review

Georgia Highlands College
Comprehensive Program Review
3-12-03 

Georgia Highlands College’s Comprehensive Program Review (CPR) is a response to the University System of Georgia Board of Regents’ initiative on program review.  It is an attempt to examine the viability, productivity and quality of programs at Georgia Highlands College through an examination of the identification of strengths and weaknesses of the academic program, the connectivity of the academic program to Georgia Highlands College’s Mission Statement, the cost effectiveness of the program and the long term viability of the program.

CPR will consist of an internal review process and, if possible, an external review process.  The internal review will be division-led assessment with support from faculty who teach within the discipline.  The review will address both academic and budgetary issues of the program.  The following factors will be explored for each program: 

1.      How the program relates to the mission of the college

2.      Student data

3.      Faculty/Administrative support of the program

4.      Curriculum

5.      Equipment

6.      Related Services

7.      Student Learning Outcomes

8.      External Benchmarks, if appropriate 

At Georgia Highlands College, the Comprehensive Program Review will examine the following programs: 

            Associate of Arts

            Associate of Science

            Associate of Science – Nursing

            Associate of Science – Dental Hygiene

            Associate of Science – Human Services

            General education

            Associate of Applied Sciences:

General Business

                        Information Technology                       

The time frame for the CPR will be every seven years, unless the program is triggered for review by the University System Office. 

At the present time, no CPRs will be conducted for the Georgia Highlands College Cooperative degree programs with Coosa Valley Technical College and North Metro Technical College. 

AAS Degree Programs

General Business

Information Technology

Associate of Science – Nursing

Associate of Science – Dental Hygiene

Associate of Science – Human Services 

Leadership:  The Division Chair responsible for each degree program will lead the preparation and development of the report with support from appropriate faculty and staff.   

Report:   The report will be at most ten pages with an accompanying abstract of no more than 1500 words.  The report will address the eight factors above and will include a summary statement on the quality, vitality, and productivity of the program.  Any recommendations regarding the program should be linked to the data in the report. 

Timeline:  
1.) The report will be presented to the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) by April 1 of the designated year. 
2.) The VPAA and the Instructional Council will, if necessary, prepare a plan of action to remediate any weaknesses indicated by the Comprehensive Program Review.
3.) The VPAA will then review the recommendations with the President’s Cabinet. 
4.)  The Division Chair responsible for the program will then be charged with the implementation of the recommendations and will report progress to the VPAA within three months. 

General Education and AA and AS Degree Programs CPR process will be organized by the Vice President for Academic Affairs in conjunction with the Faculty Assessment Teams. 

Tentative Program Review Cycle: 

2002-2003             Dental Hygiene 

2003-2004             General Business, Human Services 

2004-2005      General education 

2005-2006             AA programs 

2007-2008             AS programs 

2008-2009             Nursing 

2009-2010      Information Technology 

The CPR Cycle may be amended by the Instructional Council, if programs are triggered for review by either the University System of Georgia or Georgia Highlands College.

CPR should include information
about the following components: 

Mission

• Program mission
• Relation to institution mission
• Relation to University System mission
• Needs of students
• Demand for graduates

Student Data

• Number applying versus number accepted
• % of graduates
• Number and % passing licensure exams
• Diversity of student population
• GPA at point of entry
• Credit hours generated
• Course enrollment
• Student satisfaction results
• Attrition rate

Faculty

• Number of full time and part time faculty
• Cost
• Student/faculty ratio
• Average class size
• Diversity of faculty
• Faculty credentials
• Professional development of faculty
• Faculty production

Facilities and Equipment

• Space available for learning environment
• Cost
• Identification of equipment necessary
• Indication of campus infrastructure to support facilities and program
• Indication of adequate library support
• support relevant to program
• adequate to meet demands of the program

 Student Learning Outcomes/Curriculum

• Learning outcomes and assessment
• Link to the relevancy of curriculum/program outcome
• Course sequencing and frequency
• Enrollment patterns

Service Activities

• Advising
• Tutoring
• Internships
• Service learning
• Projects
• Contribution of service learning to mission of college
• Career planning and placement

 

 

March 18, 2003/gc